Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Simple Pleasure





The last few nights have been cool enough for me to enjoy a simple pleasure in the form of a mug of decaf tea while snuggled on the couch reading the meditation for the day from this book.

Most people I know like to spend their quiet time in the morning. I choose night.

I reflect on the day that has passed.

I focus my thoughts toward the next day.

I thank God for the blessings of the day and say my prayers for those in my heart and mind.

Simple pleasures make my world complete.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Friday Pictorial

Friday afternoon and evening Fiwa and I chillaxed in Olde Burien and at a movie.

We grabbed grub and browsed in some of the stores the area has to offer.

Lots of laughs. Good eats. A picture that spoke to me. Embracing the unexpected.

It was a great way to kick off the weekend.

Another girls day in the area is in the planning stages.

Life is good. Really, really good.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Weekly Challenge #89


This week I challenge you to pull your credit reports if you have not done so in the past year.

You just never know what might be lurking there.

Knowledge is power and action is key.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Thursday, July 09, 2009

It's a Process

To some this may represent a mess.

To me this represents craftiness and a de-stressing activity.

Feast your eyes upon the desk in which I sat down at about a week ago and got busy with the paper, ink, glitter, printer, cutter, scissors, adhesive, and colored pencils.

I was busting out my 4th of July cards.

Late? Yes.

Mass produced? No.

Original design in mind created? No.

Satisfied with end project? Yes.

I have a finished card I could share with you but it is at home and I am currently not in residence so I hope the pretty picture above can help with visualizing the finished card:
  • White card stock was the base
  • Red card stock was the accent for the "Uncle Sam" hat I stamped in black, colored with red (stripes), blue (hat top and brim), and yellow (stars)
  • Asymmetrically cut the hat and matted on red card stock in the center of the card
  • Added diamond stickle glitter for sparkle on the hat
  • Printed "Happy Independence Day" in black and matted it on red card stock which was placed in the bottom right hand corner of the card

Originally I was going to do a smiley face with the hat and fireworks but it looked too busy for my liking. Then I was just going to do the smiley face and hat. I finally decided on just the hat and greeting.

It's a process y'all. A process I enjoy.

I'm thinking since I didn't mass produce the Independence Day cards I will be making some happy summer cards for the month of August. I need a creative project to keep me happy on the inside and balanced all around.

Keep your eyes on the mailbox.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Love Affair with Pho

At least once a week I like to get a steaming bowl of Pho.
I think it is so yummy and is pretty low in fat and calories.
In a nutshell it is Vietnamese noodle soup. The traditional style is with beef. At my local favorite Pho joint there is no need to show me a menu. I will take a small #1 please.
The typical add on garnishes are bean sprouts, fresh basil, a lime wedge, and jalapenos.

This the bowl as it arrives at the table.

Onions, scallions, cilantro, the choice of meat, and noodles are in the broth. The meat continues to cook in the extremely hot broth as the garnishments are added and mixed together.

This particular day the server forgot the jalapenos so I was treated to even more than usual.

The first time I tried Pho was on an extremely nasty, dark gloomy fall day in 2004. I passed by the location and thought what the heck, I am gonna go in and give it a try.

The rest is history.

If you've never tried it, give it a whirl. I think you just might like it.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Snuggie Stylin' & Profilin'

I've been talking about getting a Snuggie since about February. Most folks laugh, scoff might be a better choice of words, at the thought.
After all it is just a blanket with sleeves.
To me it is that and much more.
I'm a snuggler so it is natural a Snuggie would be something I would embrace.
The wolf pack and I joked about getting one and a bump it for each other's birthdays.
With three of the wolf pack's birthdays approaching I decided I was gonna make it happen.
Snuggies for all!
Off I went one Sunday afternoon in search of them. I knew it might be a difficult task to accomplish since it is technically summer. However, knowing this area's cool mornings and evenings I felt pretty confident I would find them.
I struck out on the first three stores I visited.
At this point I was determined. I was going to make a Snuggie mine.
Breaking my self imposed boycott of one of my favorite stores I approached the customer service counter and inquired.
Without missing a beat she told me yes and the exact location to find them.
Off I went and much to my dismay I found them only in dark blue. Oh well I thought and put them in the basket thinking at minimum we would bling them out Laverne and Shirley style.
As I cruised around the store picking up a few other items I came across another end cap in which I literally clapped for joy and squealed in delight. Seriously.
Score! Snuggies to match all of our personalities.

Angie wanted red. Fiwa's favorite color is pink. Maricel is wild with the zebra and I am all about the cheetah/leopard print.

I couldn't contain myself. I had to share the find with someone so I immediately went to Fiwa's as I knew she was at home. After an impromptu photo session in the backyard we went to Maricel's to deliver hers.

J, Maricel's hubby, gave us grief for a while about them but don't think for a moment he didn't want one for himself. He said nope but do know later the very same afternoon when he took a nap, he covered himself in her Snuggie.

Leave it to Angie to wrap herself up kimono style. She has named hers Obi One.

I named mine Chester. Here I am in Angie's backyard chillaxin'.

Fiwa secretly wears hers I believe. I know she has worn it at least once because one Sunday night as we watched tv at her place, she was wrapped up in hers and I was in mine.

We do sport them in public too. Angie was wearing hers at the 4th of July celebration in the park as was I but I wasn't able to do the kimono and walk back to the car with mine on as effortlessly as she did.

We've sported them from the street to the entrance of a house while completing a super secret covert Snuggie style operation to spread love and cheer.

I'm wearing them down on the idea of a Snuggie pub crawl.

I'm fairly confident by this fall it will happen.

So if you've been wondering about getting a Snuggie, I say do. Ours are being used quite often. The only downside is when you wash it lots and lots of lint is produced. Other than this, live on the edge and join us by stylin' and profilin' in your very own Snuggie.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Weekly Challenge #88


This week I challenge you to be a student of life, to try something new, embrace an opportunity you might otherwise reject.

Explore.

Extend yourself just a little bit and be open to the possibilities.

Don't worry too much about the outcome.

Just do.

Your friends and family can be a source of learning for you.

Ask questions.

Observe.

Be present.

Channel the spirit of innovators and inventors.

If they didn't let themselves be a student and embrace what this challenge is all about, life wouldn't be the way we know it.

Peace and Love Peeps.